His decision to join the Peace Corps grew out of his interest in pursuing graduate school in international relations or international business. Without a strong background in either field, it was recommended that he seek experience overseas. "They recommended both the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps," Kampert said. "The Peace Corps appealed to me most because I was interested in foreign cultures and foreign languages and it could be a stepping stone to something afterwards. Plus, it's a chance to do some good and help some people."

At 22 years old, Mark S. Kampert Jr., probably should have spent Sunday keeping track of fantasy football statistics like many guys his age.

But instead of touchdowns and rushing yardage, Kampert was busy packing and saying his goodbyes on Sunday, getting things in order to leave Uniontown Monday for a two-year Peace Corps stint in Africa.

Kampert, the 2002 Uniontown Area High School valedictorian, reported for orientation in Washington, D.C., on Monday and is scheduled to fly to Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday. Once there, he will be stationed in the western coastal country of Namibia, where he will teach math, English and possibly science to high school aged students.

As he made final preparations on Saturday, he found the most frustrating thing was deciding what to take with him.

"My accommodations are very ambiguous at this time," he said. "I don't know if I'll have electricity or running water. I could have both, along with Internet access, or I could have none of them. It makes it difficult to pack because I don't know what to expect."

And it's not like he had a lot of time to do so either. After all, he only returned on Friday from a two-month trip to Italy.

"I got to credit my mom for a lot," Kampert said Saturday. "She helped me prepare a lot of things while I was in Rome."

Originally scheduled to leave for Africa in September, his departure was postponed so he decided to make a return trip to Rome, where on a separate trip he had spent eight months previously as a student.

"I did a study aboard experience and after getting a taste of what it's like to live and experience other cultures, I came back to school and wanted to try something different," the 2006 Bucknell University graduate said.

His decision to join the Peace Corps grew out of his interest in pursuing graduate school in international relations or international business. Without a strong background in either field, it was recommended that he seek experience overseas.

"They recommended both the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps," Kampert said. "The Peace Corps appealed to me most because I was interested in foreign cultures and foreign languages and it could be a stepping stone to something afterwards. Plus, it's a chance to do some good and help some people."

Once his plane touches down in South Africa, he'll travel to neighboring Namibia, which is roughly half the size of Alaska. He'll spend the first two months in the capital city of Windhoek where he'll get a chance to learn about the country's culture and receive job training.

Though he'll be living in a foreign land, he doesn't expect to contend with a language barrier. English is one of two official languages of Namibia and he expects that "mostly everyone" will have a basic understanding of English.

"I'm not too worried about it. I feel that I have two months in the capital city to kind of adjust," he said.

The two-month stay in Windhoek also will be when he has the most reliable access to mail, and he said that would come in handy if he discovers he forgot to pack something.

In January, he will be assessed and his skills evaluated to pair him with the community where he will be the best fit.

In other words, other than his first months in the capital city, as he prepares to leave the country, he has no idea where he'll be stationed in the former German colony.

"When I go to the site in January, that's when I'll find out what I have to work with," he said.

Dealing with ambiguity regarding where he'll spend the next two years isn't anything new to Kampert. He initially began considering the Peace Corps last winter and made a final decision to apply in mid-April. After passing several requirements and clearing physical and mental tests, he was approved by the Peace Corps in mid-July, but still did not know even which country he'd be stationed in.

He was tentatively scheduled to leave in September, but that was pushed back. It wasn't until the last week of September that he found that he would be leaving in November and that he would be going to Namibia.

"Once I got past the ambiguity and started getting some direct answers, I felt better because I know I'm going for a good cause and I know in the long run I'm going to do something to help a lot of people," he said. "And at the same time, it will be something that's going to change my life forever."

While he's spent 11 months in Italy on two separate occasions and three months in Athens, Greece, on an archeological dig, leaving for Africa was harder, he said.

"I said goodbye to my grandmother today," Kampert said. "She's not a young spring chicken anymore, and I realize that saying goodbye to her now that it might be very different in two years. She might be sick or not around anymore."

His parents, Mark and Mary Anges of Smithfield, are worried about his safety, but have encouraged him.

"They've grown used to the fact that I'm not going to be around too much," he said. "To them, Africa is just another stop on the trail."

While many people would scoff at the mere idea of leaving everything behind for two years to possibly live without electricity or running water, Kampert said he is looking forward to it.

"Honestly, I'm not ready to plant my roots. I'm not ready to really commit to anything for the rest of my life, career-wise," he said. "It's quite the opposite; I'll have two years to decide what I want to do and where I want to be."

He also plans on using his time to catch up on some of the reading he said he's been missing. Along with the dress clothes and bug spray, he's packed books like "Pride and Prejudice" and "Catch 22."

He is, however, not packing any preconceived notions or expectations about his trip.

"I'm trying to use the 'See What Happens' approach as I go," he said. "The Peace Corps asked what I expected and how this was going to change my life, but if I knew the answer to that, why the heck would I do this?

"I don't want to go in with any expectations that would influence what I do and what I take away from it," he added. "I'm going to get the real thing, the real experience, and not have it influenced by my expectations."

The one expectation he would allow was that he thinks the two years will fly by.

"I just got back from two months in Italy and it felt like I snapped my fingers and it was over," he said.

And as it turns out, it was just in time to grab his passport and head overseas again.

Ron Tschetter in Morocco and JordanOn his first official trip since being confirmed as Peace Corps Director, Ron Tschetter (shown at left with PCV Tia Tucker) is on a ten day trip to Morocco and Jordan. Traveling with his wife (Both are RPCVs.), Tschetter met with volunteers in Morocco working in environment, youth development, health, and small business development. He began his trip to Jordan by meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and discussed expanding the program there in the near future.

Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace CorpsSenator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments.

He served with honorOne year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

Peace Corps' Screening and Medical ClearanceThe purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

The Peace Corps is "fashionable" againThe LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace.

PCOL readership increases 100%Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

History of the Peace CorpsPCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

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Story Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Namibia; Recruitment

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